Master of children’s horror is at it again, but this is not a Goosebumps book. It still has all the great things about Stine’s writing- suspense, horror, jokes and twists. I have to say I did not see the twist coming, and it was a doozy. Once it happened, I thought I could figure out how it would end but I was wrong- and I absolutely love what happened instead!

From the beginning, reading about what a horror the narrators’s little brother was I couldn’t believe he wasn’t just permanently punished! After he pushes her to the point of no return, she comes up with a plan for revenge. I won’t say more!

Excellent read!

This was a fun, quick read, with cliff-hanger chapters that really propelled the story forward. An interesting and believable protagonist and a truly horrid antagonist that frustrated the hell out of me and made me root even harder for the main character.

And wow... the twist. It was huge and I never saw it coming.

An entertaining middle-grade book that's perfect for the Halloween season.

Thank you to Net Galley for my review copy! I will start by saying I am a 36 year old and I did not go into this book with this mindset. I read this like my younger self would and it was everything I could have hoped for in an RL Stine book.

The mystery was fun, the characters were simple but perfect for a middle grade setting, and I loved how it still felt like a perfect intro into the horror world! RL Stine clearly knows horror and does such a fantastic job of coming so close to adult horror but then scaling it back for his audience. In the end it had Goosebumps style twists and turns and a fun and approachable spooky experience.

I read this book from Net Galley as an ARC and the review is my own opinion.

This is a middle grade spooky book. I love R.L. Stine’s books. I was excited to read this one. The writing is descriptive, fun and Al just spooky enough to scare a young reader with slime, monsters and craziness. The characters were well developed. The main character, Amy, has a horrible brother and she finally had enough! What will she do to get revenge? Read and find out!

Amy's little brother is a terror! Her parents aren't doing anything about him. Amy starts seeing things that no one else sees. What is going on? Amy is determined to find out. The plot is fast paced. Young kids who love reading horror to start this author is the place to start.

I highly recommend this book to middle graders and anyone who is a fan of Stine!

Amy's little brother Arnie is a real monster. He is always causing trouble. She's finally had enough. She and her friend Lissa come up with a plan to get revenge on Arnie. Eventually, they find out that Slime Doesn't Pay.

This book was very enjoyable. The twist at the end caught me by surprise, but it was definitely entertaining.

Oh the nostalgia! I've been a Stine fan for so many years, and last year spent a lot of time re-reading the Goosebump series. In true Stine fashion he crafts a story that leaves you flipping each page because you just have to know what happens. As an adult reading this novel it reminded me a lot of being a kid, of being ignored and trying desperately hard to understand adult problems when I had no real concept of them. It's perfect for younger kids that are just starting out with the horror genre, and for adults that want that feeling of nostalgia especially if you were a fan of his work from your younger years. Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-galley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This R.L. Stine was kind of a miss for me sadly. The twist was sort of expected but I could look past that if not for the no resolution ending. Maybe I’ve aged out of his writing but I still love Goosebumps to this day and this story really just didn’t do it for me sadly :(

R.L. Stine always does a great job in writing horror novels for children, this had everything that I enjoyed from previous books and am glad I got to read this. It had it’s own charm to this and was everything that I wanted.

I requested this for nostalgia purposes, but you're better off reading Stine's original series, be it Fear Street or Goosebumps. I know these are technically middle grade, but nothing about this is remotely scary. I guessed the twist. There wasn't any resolution.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I don’t know many people my generation not familiar with R.L. Stine. I’m thrown back to Scholastic book fairs and book orders and looking forward to every new book in the series as they came. Every once in awhile, I love to revisit some of my favorite authors and plunge into YA books. When I think R.L. Stine, I am sent back to the days of sneaking flashlights into my room and then staying up way too late because I didn’t want to turn the light off. Slime Doesn’t Pay! definitely did not disappoint.

Without going into too much detail because I don’t want to give away spoilers, I loved that some of the themes of the novel that hit the hardest were actually the human elements not supernatural. Don’t misunderstand me, R.L. Stine delivers on the horror and supernatural elements their known for, but the elements that resonated with me were returning to the protagonist’s age and not being heard and dismissed by adults, worrying in the background about the trouble the adults are having where you know there’s trouble but they don’t see you as mature enough to be a part of the conversations they’re having (or they’re trying to protect you), having to navigate friendship groups and relationships at that age, and having a brother and his antagonism. There were so many other things that were scarier to me to imagine returning to at that age, that combined with the horror it’s definitely another hit in the R.L. Stine library.

Please be aware that I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book for NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short and fun story perfect for Halloween coming up. It was a quick read as I just breezed right through it. I enjoyed it as much a I have enjoyed R L Stine's books in the past.

A huge hit of nostalgia wrapped up in a short but enticing story. Typical goosebumps style. Anyone with a sibling knows how they can be an absolute monster, but Amy’s brother Ernie is literally ruining her life. He’s obnoxious, he’s loud, he thinks he’s funny but I’m reality he’s cruel and relentless. After watching a popular YouTube video Amy and her best friend devise a plot of revenge, super sticky slime covering Ernie in front of his whole class at his birthday party? Perfect. Embarrassment and humbling ensured. But the story never ends there does it, this author guarantees some frightfully hilarious twists and this book is not different

I was excited to get an ARC of this book because I am a huge R.L. Stine fan.
The story is interesting with different characters that add to the story. It's just like reading a longer Goosebumps book. The story has twists and turns that make you want to keep reading to see what happens next. Fans of Goosebumps and R.L. Stine will love this one. I highly recommend it!

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴏ ɪɴᴛᴏxɪᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʀʟ sᴛɪɴᴇ’s ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ - ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛ! ɪ ᴀᴍ ɴᴏᴛ sᴜʀᴇ ɪғ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴊᴜsᴛ ɴᴏsᴛᴀʟɢɪᴀ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ғʟᴇᴡ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ɪ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀsᴛ ʏᴇᴀʀ! ʜᴇ ʜᴀs ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ sᴛʏʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғʟᴏᴡs ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ. ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀʟʏ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴀɴᴋsᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ɪᴛ ! ɪ ᴀʟsᴏ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ʀᴏᴏᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀʀɴɪᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ.

ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs ᴀ ғᴀʙᴜʟᴏᴜs ᴊᴏʙ ᴏғ ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴄʟɪғғʜᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ - ᴜʟᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀʏ “ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ”.

ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀɴ ᴏɢ ʀʟ sᴛɪɴᴇ ғᴀɴ ᴏʀ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ sᴄᴀʀʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏʀ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ sʟɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ 🤣

📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @blackstonepublishing ᴀɴᴅ @netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ 📖

Lots of little brothers can be pests and troublemakers—but Amy’s brother Arnie is a MONSTER … In this R. L. Stine family-friendly scare fest, Amy and her friend, Lissa, don’t know what to do about Arnie’s bullying, bad-boy behavior, and mean jokes and pranks.

Classic Goosebumps! I felt like I was ten years old again.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

As a children’s librarian, and someone who loves horror, I was really excited to get this book early. For myself, because I've been a big fan of R.L. Stine since I started chapter books, and for my patrons because I try to stay up to date with all the new spooky fiction for the kids so I can give better recommendations based on their individual interests (and age group).

This cover is really cool and will definitely pull in avid Stine reads, it’s got the classic pop out colors and the perfect amount of creepy display of its monster to hook them. Story kicks off with a deep sibling rivalry between annoying and disruptive little brother Arnie and his older “too cool” sister Amy. The further into the story you get, the more you start to side with Amy because Arnie isn’t just annoying, he is cruel. And the parents really blow off these outbursts because they are concerned with their unemployment and finances. Amy decides to take matters into her own hands to get revenge on her little brother…And a monster of a mess unfolds!

Great quick read. Will absolutely be adding to our collection. I would recommend it for kiddos (3rd grade and up) who want to start horror but aren’t too keen on ghosts or paranormal/spiritual encounters as this one has got nothing like that, just your classic ol monster-without getting into spoilers.

In R.L Stine's new chapter Slime Doesn't Pay! we meet Amy and Arnie. In true sibling fashion, Arnie is a firecracker full of pranks, disturbances and just pure trouble. After an incident at Amy's sleepover, Amy and her friends agree it's time to get some payback on Arnie and create a blue slime to embarrass him at his birthday party. Little did they know, revenge can backfire, and things could be left worse than before.

In true Stine fashion, this is a quick and entertaining read written perfectly for the Middle Grade ages. As a lifelong fan, I was eager to jump right in quickly and it certainly didn't disappoint. It had the right amount of nostalgia to be perfect for adult readers and it also had a perfect blend of horror, family life and technology to be relatable to the newer Stine generations. The only issue for me as an adult reader was the book was heavily built up for a rushed crescendo and ending. Whether you are shopping for a pre-teen or just searching for the nostalgia hit, everyone would find some enjoyment in Slime Doesn't Pay!

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and R.L Stine for an advanced copy for review. This one is set for release on 26th September, 2023.

I know this is a kids horror genre however, it being for kids I have to say this was not my favorite RL Stine. I could not stand the parents. They were so irresponsible!! Everyone just letting the kids behavior go on and on even endangering his sister and other childern. They knew the whole time and yet let it go on for years. They just accepted this like it was a normal thing? Yes siblings have issues and so do families but this was kind of taking it to far. The danger they kept allowing to happen. Part of the monster/beast part was fun and little pranks but I did not care for the secrets and the bully like behavior being let to keep going. I am sure many will disagree and kids will probably enjoy it.

This is fantastic! I thought the story was great and of course Stine’s writing has always worked for me.

R L Stine is truly a master of the craft when it comes to horror for middle graders (and even for older audiences as well) and Slime Doesn't Pay showcases that.

Slime Doesn't Pay follows Amy, our heroine, who is telling us how she may have played a horrendous prank on her brother and how regretfully all her actions led up to the turning of her brother into a true monster. This story is a quickly-paced romp that kept me hooked as twist after twist unfolded.

I have been a Stine fan since I was a tiny human reading him late into the evening growing up and I absolutely loved this story. It feels like a classic tale while at the same time giving me new types of twists to expect. I think the part of this story that I loved the most was the way the story is told. Because this story is told from a future perspective, I think that the commentary of the narrator really built the suspense in a fun page-flipping way. I genuinely felt some of these moments as scary and think that readers of all ages could and will love this story.

Readers beware, you're most assuredly in for a scare (and some campy fun)!